it also layed the bedrock for the modern civil rights movement. >> the civil rights lawyer who argued the brown versus brown of education came would eventually become part of the warren courtment thurgood marshall would serve as a supreme court justice for 31 years. in 1992 a year after he was retired marshall was honored by the nation's lawyers at an event here in the bay area. george watson reported. >> reporter: the american bar association honored retired supreme court justice thurgood marshall with its highest award. marshall will receive the award tomorrow. where did it all begin? in 1933, marshall received his law degree. his naacp, he fought for the civil rights of black americans. but what marked his time in history was the 1954 landmark case brown versus board of education. the supreme court struck down the separate but equal doctrine opening the way for integration of schools. but president eisenhower still called for patient on the issue of integration. >> i personally believe if you try to go too far too fast in laws in this delegate field, that has involved the emotions